X-Men Fan Fiction ❯ Witness ❯ Jealousy ( Chapter 31 )

Authors Note/Disclaimer:

I do not own XMen Evolution, its characters, or the universe they live in. I intend no disrespect or copyright infringement. This is a work of adult fan fiction and is intended only for entertainment purposes. I make no money from this work.

No sex in this chapter folks...Life isn’t perfect, nor are the people who live it.

A character in this chapter will discuss “theories” about mutant behavior/biology. This idea was based on information from a Wikipedia article in the Marvel Database. This article has since been edited and no longer contains those passages. I had intended to cite my reference and attempted to look it up before posting. Made me think I’d slipped a gear or two until I figured out how to look up previous versions. Nuff’ said.

As always, constructive criticism is welcome.

Please see the first chapter for complete warnings for this piece.

Chapter Thirty One: Jealousy

Fred hated parties. He usually got stuck playing bouncer and if he went anywhere near the food people looked at him like he was a pig. Dancing was just impossible in this crowd. Even if they didn’t laugh at him, he’d probably wind up knocking someone over or breaking something.

So he stood near the stereo, as far away from the food as he could get and just kept the music coming. Angie flitted around, keeping bowls full of chips and the cooler full of drinks. She was bringing him a drink now, taking a break from directing people back and forth to the bathroom in the basement.

Now he knew why Riss had him and Lance build that linen closet right in front of the door that no one was allowed to go in. So all these guys wouldn’t know it was there.

“Hey sweetie, how you doing?” She smiled at him as she handed him his drink. At least she was having fun.

“I’m fine, I guess. Want me to play something for you?”

“Whatever you got is fine, as long as the kids are happy.” Angie turned to watch the crowd of teenagers dancing. Her toes were tapping and he felt a little guilty about not dancing with her.

They watched the dancers for a while and he spotted Wanda and Marissa in the crowd, dancing with that Nightcrawler guy. Angie moved closer to him and put a hand on his arm, biting her lip. He didn’t think they ought to be doing that with one of those XGeeks…Looked like trouble to him. Even if Pietro was necking with his girlfriend in the corner.

It was trouble…because that Kitty-girl Lance used to date was throwing a hissy fit about it. Angie was smiling and he felt like he was missing something. He wanted to ask but he hated feeling stupid. Angie patted his arm absently as she watched.

“Looking good, Riss…” He heard her say. Then she was leaving him alone again, showing a pair of girls to the bathroom.

It was time to change the CD’s again and when he turned around he saw Wanda necking with a stranger on the couch…Looked familiar…Maybe he wasn’t a stranger? Well, looked like Pietro didn’t approve. Of course Wanda never cared about that.

Fred watched Wanda and Todd take the stranger upstairs and he felt a little uneasy. Riss and Lance were still down here and it just didn’t seem quite right. Angie was back again and she was frowning. Pietro and his girlfriend were going upstairs too.

“How long do we have to stay down here?” Fred asked. His feet were starting to hurt from standing so long.

“I don’t know sweetie…Somebody needs to keep an eye on things. Too many of these kids running around here. Might get into something.”

Oh good…At least some of them were going home. Riss and Lance were kicking out all the under-agers. And Wolverine was leaving. That was a relief. At least he wouldn’t have to try to bounce the old man.

He turned around to check the stereo again and was startled to find that Kitty-girl and Nightcrawler necking in the shadows. Damn it, everybody else seemed to be having fun. Angie sidled up to him and rubbed his back with one hand. Kitty noticed him watching and pulled her friend back out on the floor to dance.

“You could go on up if you’re really tired. I’ll keep an eye on things.” Angie offered.

“No. I’ll stay.” Maybe now he could sit down at least…And…Whoa…what were Lance and Riss doing? Was that even legal?

“Oh…Wow…Didn’t know he could move like that.” Angie stared at Lance and Marissa dancing.

“Let’s go sit down on the couch.” Fred skirted the crowd of dancers carefully, spotting Rogue and that Gambit guy dancing too. Angie followed him to curl up on the couch next to him

This was better, at least his feet didn’t hurt so much and Angie had saved him a bowl of party mix. Now Riss was dancing with Nightcrawler and Lance was dancing with Kitty? Huh? He looked at Angie, but she didn’t seem bothered by it, so he shrugged to himself.

Now Lance and Riss were gone too, upstairs and it was just him and Angie and the XGeeks. He didn’t even see that Gambit guy anymore.

There were fewer bodies dancing now, people were starting to get tired. Nightcrawler was leading Kitty up the stairs now and he started to get up. Angie stopped him.

“It’s all right, Riss gave him a key. The extra room at the end of the hall.”

“Oh…”

They sat there a long time, until people either began to leave or started asking shyly where they could crash. Angie made a couple trips to the basement for blankets and pillows and stuff. A few people were still dancing and talking and he spotted the stranger Wanda had been kissing talking to a couple of girls.

“Who’s that?” He asked Angie when she came back with an armful of linens.

“Must be that Pyro guy…Yeah. Riss said he had red hair.” Angie dropped the linens on the coffee table as Pyro slipped his arm around one girl’s waist and dangled a key from his finger.

“Can we go up now?” Fred was yawning.

“Yeah…I’m beat.” Angie followed him up the stairs to bed, leaving their guests to fend for themselves…


Marissa blinked at the unfamiliar ceiling for a moment…Oh…Yeah…Lance. His arms were still wound around her and his leg lay heavy across hers. He was snoring quietly in her ear. She was tempted just to go back to sleep, but someone should probably get up.

She moved a little, trying to wake him up but he was a sound sleeper. So she pried his arms loose and rolled him onto his back. He was so cute, his dark hair falling across his eyes and he looked younger, almost like a little boy. Except for the five o’ clock shadow. She kissed his forehead before rolling out of bed and looking for her clothes.

Damn, her jeans felt tight this morning. She dressed just enough to be decent in case she encountered anyone in the hall. She wanted something a little more comfortable this morning. She took one last look at Lance’s sleeping face before slipping out the door.

Their room wasn’t locked and she slipped inside. She’d expected the room to be empty, but a pair of dark eyes were staring at her from her bed. She stifled a squeal of surprise.

“Jubilee?” Then who was the other lump in her bed?

“Sorry…Didn’t know this was your room.” The other girl pulled the blanket around herself revealing a head of unruly red hair.

“Whosit love?” He mumbled and rolled over.

“John? Where’s Todd?”

“Left ‘im with Wanda. Tol’ me go play…” John was half asleep and making no sense. The room reeked of sex. God, the nerve of him! In her bed. She scowled.

“Look…Um…I’ll just get my clothes and go…” The girl was probably blushing but it was hard to tell with her complexion. Jesus…Was the girl even legal yet? Hope so.

“No…Take your time…I just want to get a change of clothes.” Marissa gritted her teeth and started rummaging in her dresser for something that wasn’t too tight. She snatched her clothes up and left hurriedly to change in Lance’s room. He was still sound asleep.

She changed clothes and left her dirty laundry in a pile for later. She debated about waking Lance, but decided against it. What she really wanted was to crawl in bed with Todd…But, he was with Wanda…and…Yeah…she was mad at him.

Fucking John and his…his…Don’t even know what to call it. Competitiveness?

She should eat something…but the idea made her stomach queasy. Ugh. Go check downstairs, see what the damage is. Teenagers sprawled everywhere…on the couch, on the chairs, on the floor. Under the coffee table? Who was that?

Oh...Sam. How did he manage to curl up that small when his legs were so long? Weird.

She must be one of the first ones up. Check the kitchen…What a mess…Get out, the smell is nauseating. Downstairs then, to the basement. More bodies down here, snoring. Check the false back in the linen closet. No sign that anyone’s been messing with it. Check the office. Still locked. Good.

Nausea…Stumble between the sleeping bodies to make it to the toilet just in time. Yuck. And my toothbrush is upstairs. Crap. Someone’s already pounding on the door. Flush it away before the smell makes you puke again. Rinse your mouth.

Smile. Great party, huh? Should do it again sometime. Don’t even care who that was.

Go back upstairs and look for something to settle your stomach. Saltines, right? Where the fuck are they? I will not dry heave into the kitchen sink...I will not cry because some goddamned nut job managed to fuck both my boyfriend and my girlfriend in one night. Not to mention fucking some other girl in my bed…

Why did I throw this party again? Who invited the nut job? Wasn’t me.

Did they really just trade me off like that? She could believe it of Wanda…but Todd? Is he really that pissed at me? Where are those stupid crackers? Banging the cabinet doors, probably waking everyone up. Don’t care.

Oops, sorry. Thank Sam for getting them down. Cannonball to the rescue again.

Sit out on the back stoop and eat dry crackers…Oh thank God! It actually works. Mouth is dry but at least I’m not puking. Maybe I could stomach some milk.

A glass of milk and half a dozen bleary-eyed people. Sam is disgustingly cheerful for this time of day. Smile again. Someone needs a shower and some mouthwash…Urgh…Another saltine and I’m outta here.

I need a shower…Go upstairs, maybe beat the rush. Pass Jubilee on the way up, she won’t look me in the eye. Big surprise. Door opening…My door. Shit…Like a bad penny.

“G’day!” John’s grin was a hair too wide. “Have a good time last night? Felt the earth move didya?”

“Christ, John. Fuck off.”

“Ooohh! Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed. What’s the matter, Avalanche didn't take care of you?”

“Don’t push me, John.”

“Don’t push you…Just trying to be friendly. I thought we was mates.”

“Mates don’t screw barely legal girls in their friend’s bed.”

“Oh…Is that it? I though maybe you were jealous, seeing as how your boyfriend sucks cock better than you do.”

“You’re a shit, John. Congratulations.”

“Or maybe it’s because your girlfriend’s a better lay than you are…” He giggled.

“John…” Marissa ground her teeth as he turned around, heading for the shower.

“And to think…I didn’t even have to pay for it.”

She didn’t even remember she had it with her until the switchblade was in her hand. Heard the soft click before she even thought of flipping it open. John heard it too and stopped, turning as she drew back her hand holding the blade between her fingers. Her body was ready to act before she’d even willed it.

Then her hand went numb and the blade fell from her fingers as someone twisted her arm painfully. She heard another familiar sound as John flipped open his lighter and a ball of flame bloomed on his palm. He advanced on her, his face lit eerily by the flames.

“You a guest here, John. Dis no way to behave.” Remy’s fingers were like steel bands on her arm and her hand was still numb. Shit. Where had he come from?

“She was going to kill me.”

“Dat enough, John. You tink what de boss do to you, you burn dis one.”

“Holy Fucking Marissa, mother of mutant-kind…What makes her so special?”

“Let go of me, Remy…” Marissa struggled against his painful grip. Either she’d lost some of her edge or Remy hadn’t taught her everything.

“No. Dis house full of children…Some of dem de boss’ children. You tink about dat, John.”

“Think I care about Magneto? Or these brats?”

“You burn dis one. Remy kill you himself.”

“You wouldn’t…” The ball of flame flickered and John looked…hurt.

“Dis a mistake…You go tink about it.”

“What makes her so special? She’s not even a mutant.” The lighter flipped closed and the flame died.

“You say she your friend…Make Remy wonder if you burn him, too.”

Then Remy was dragging her forcibly through the open door to his room as John tried to form some sort of answer. He leaned against it to close it and locked it without releasing his grip on her arm.

“Let me go!” Marissa took in the rumpled bed and Rogue’s startled face as she struggled furiously. Two more people she didn’t want to see this morning…

“You not tinking straight, girl.” His grip loosened just enough and she slipped free, turning on him and trying to push him away from the door. John had gone too far this time…

“Let me out of here.”

“No.”

Rogue watched them struggle with wide eyes. They were oddly silent as their bodies played out the battle of wills between them. She to leave before John was out of reach and he to stop her from doing something foolish. The wrestling match would have been over sooner if he weren’t determined not to hurt her. She on the other hand was willing to commit at least minor mayhem on his person.

After a moment’s hesitation, Rogue circled around to rest her back against the door.

“Ah think you need to cool off, too.”

“Shit.” Remy had her pinned on the bed, now. Marissa scowled at him and Rogue. “That isn’t fucking fair…That…that…psycho is running loose…”

“He no danger till you provoke him.” Remy didn’t let up.

“Provoke him…Did you hear what he said to me? Do you know what he did?”

“We still need him…You don’t take such risks…Dis not just your life anymore.”

“I don’t want him anywhere near them…Todd, Wanda…He’d have screwed Lance too if he could manage it. He’s dangerous!”

“He jealous…He don’ have nobody dat love him…not even like him. You tink on dat. Use it. We need him.”

“I need that bastard like I need a hole in the head…He fucking used me…first to get to you. And now Todd and Wanda!”

“He no threat to you…He just being John.”

“This is my life he’s fucking with…” Marissa lay back on the bed, looking at the ceiling.

“He’ll be gone tomorrow.” Rogue relaxed a bit and stepped closer.

“Remy forget sometime how young you are…John want what he can’t have…”

“They just dumped me off on Lance so they could go play with him…”

“And dey kick him out before de night is done…Why you think he wit’ dat girl this morning?”

“What girl?” Rogue sat on the edge of the bed.

“Jubilee…They were in my bed this morning.”

“Jubilee? Gonna have ta have a talk with her later.” Rogue scowled.

“You finish wit’ being stupid? Cause Remy need to talk business wit’ you.”

“Remy really needs to learn how to use pronouns…”

“I…need to talk to Legacy. Not to dis spoiled child, Marissa.” Remy’s stern scowl was spoiled by the small twitch of his lips.

“Let me up…Before I start puking again. Ugh.” He did and she sat up, swallowing against the nausea. “One more thing, before we talk business.”

“What ting?”

“Just because I set the two of you up doesn’t mean I actually want to participate.”

“Dat was…accidental.”

“What’s she talking about, Remy?”

“Remy forget about de link…”

“Remy was broadcasting so loud I couldn’t think…When I’m with Lance, I want to be with him…Not you, not him.” Marissa pointed at each of them. “I got enough on my plate without this shit.” Rogue was blushing furiously.

“How much did you…hear?”

“Too much…You know how I feel Remy. Leave me out of it.”

“Remy…I…will be more careful.”

“Yeah. You do that.” Marissa sighed and sat up straighter. “Now for business.”

“De boss, he want proof.”

“I’ve got a paper from the clinic, I’ll give you a copy.”

“He want a blood sample too.”

“No problem…Got plenty of that.”

“Do you really have ta go back, Remy? The Professor would help you…”

“I need you there, Remy. And yeah, we need John too. Can’t count on Victor to side with us again. Not sure why he did in the first place.”

“I wonder ‘bout dat, what you do to him?”

“Just what he asked for, that’s all.”

“Dat was a crazy risk to take.”

“Less risky than the alternative…Victor was going to have it one way or another…Gave me some control. I’ve been raped…It’s not fun.” Marissa looked away for a minute, her expression dark.

“You…Victor Creed? Sabertooth?” Rogue looked shocked. “He’s a…a…”

“I know what he is.” Marissa didn’t want to talk about it. “How is Peter?”

“He angry, frustrated. Magneto keeping him close to home.”

“How angry?”

“Angry enough dat de boss should watch his back. Remy too…”

“Can you lean on him? Keep him from doing something stupid?”

“Oui. But, I don’ like it, none. Keeping John under control done give me migraines.”

“Sorry, Rem…Find out where his sister is…Peter and his sister are too valuable to waste.”

“Dat might take a while. Magneto don’ trust us wit’ dat.”

“He’s probably chipped her too…”

“Probably…Might be able to get access to de machine.”

“Find out, but don’t do anything yet. If you get caught…Roll over on me…Tell him I consider Peter and his sister Legacy property. And that I fear for his safety as long as Peter is there…Not sure it will save your ass, but maybe it will make him think. And now that I’m pregnant, he won’t want to ruin his experiment by killing me.”

“Dat what dis is? An experiment?”

“Been doing some research…I never got this kind of play with normals. I’m starting to believe in this theory that there’s something that brings people carrying the x-factor together. Been a couple of studies done…I’m doing some on the sly, too…”

Marissa looked at Rogue, wondering how much she should let her know. Maybe she already knew after that last time they shared memories. That damper didn’t completely block her powers…so sooner or later she’d get it from Remy, if nothing else.

“What kind of thing?” Rogue was curious.

“Not sure…But, Victor said I smelled good. That he wanted me the first time he smelled me…hadn’t even seen me. Made me think.” She bit her lip for a moment. “Pheromones maybe? I’ll know more once I start getting feedback from my clients.”

“What clients?”

“I am Legacy…I run Legacy Enterprises…Legacy Match is my baby.”

“You?”

“That’s the payoff…New name, start up money, equipment, training…Already starting to make a profit since I didn’t actually have to buy anything…Well, not with money, anyway.”

“Why would he give you all that?”

“Look around you Rogue…What was the Brotherhood like when you were here? The Brotherhood was nothing but a bunch of losers then. Mystique’s misfits…Then they were Magneto’s throwaways. What changed?”

“You saying you did this?”

“I’m saying they changed…All they needed was a little push. Someone to have faith in them. And not try to make them into something they’re not. They’re not heroes…And they’re not killers either. Magneto may be an egomaniac who wants to rule the world…But, Eric Lenssher is a father who wants to see his kids make something of themselves.”

“Magneto is a threat…to me, to you, to the Brotherhood. To all of humankind…not just normals. And this little tadpole I’ve got cooking. I intend to eliminate him…Not by killing him…But, by giving Eric what he wants most.”

“And what is that? I’ve been in his head honey–and all I saw was wantin’ ta make humans go away–permanently.”

“He wants proof that everything he’s done…everything he’s been…isn’t wasted. He wants proof that mutants…and his children…will survive him. Not just survive…but…umm…” Marissa searched for the right word. She wasn’t a speechmaker. “Thrive, prosper. He may look young, but he’s still an old man inside. And he thinks like an old man.”

“He fear de future and tink too much of de past. Don’ quite see de present for what it is.”

“That’s it, Rem. He thinks this has all happened before…But, it hasn’t. It’s not quite the same. This isn’t one race against another…It only looks the same on the surface.”

“You really think you can change his mind?”

“I don’t intend to give him much choice. But, I’m halfway there already. If he didn’t want to believe me, he’d have killed me a long time ago.”

“Ah still don’t understand why you’d even try. This whole thing is crazy.”

“I never claimed to be sane…Maybe Wanda’s contagious.” Marissa shrugged. “My whole life’s been turned inside out since I met her…And Todd. Hmm…” She looked thoughtful for a moment.

“But, I owe my life to the Brotherhood. I’m only breathing now because they got me before Salvador did. Owe them twice…Especially Pietro and Wanda. If Salvador didn’t killed me that day…Victor was going to take me…And he had no intention of turning me over to Magneto before he had his fun. Would have still done it if Wanda hadn’t asked Daddy to take care of me…”

She knew some of this was news to Remy…Could feel a complicated mix of reactions through the link they shared.

“So…This life…For whatever it’s worth…Belongs to the Brotherhood. I’m expendable. They’re not.”

“Dis not just your life anymore.”

“No…Guess not…” Marissa tapped her fingers on her knees. “This works…No more worrying about Magneto starting some sort of war. If it comes to outright war, the Brotherhood falls first...caught in the middle. Magneto don’t trust us…You guys don’t either.” She looked at Rogue.

“Business…You find Peter’s sister. You don’t do anything else unless you think she’s in danger. You tell two people. Me and Rogue.”

“What den?”

“The Brotherhood has to stay neutral in this. So, it’ll have to be the XMen. Peter only works for Magneto because his sister is a hostage. When the time is right…You go get her, take her to the Institute. Not too soon, though. The Acolytes can be replaced.”

“You gon’ have to make nice wit’ John before we go.”

“Lucky me.”